Pneumatic action for musical instruments.



J. P. GAULFIBLD. PNBUMATIO LGTION ron MUsIoAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLIOATIOB FILED HAY 18, 1907.

901,068. Patented 001;.13,19os.

2 suma-snm 1.'

. J. P. GAULIIELD. PNBUMATIG ACTION FOB MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. armonici mman un 1s, 1901.

Patented octr.13,19oa..

2 anims-sinn a.

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iAiIEs P. cVAUILFIELD, or aL'rIMoRE,y MARYLAND.

Pmlzmn'rmv simon' For. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

spammen of Letten ratent.

Patented Oct. 13, 180B.

Applicaties ma my i9, 1907. semi No. 379,909.

To all whom 'it may cortcerazj4 Baltimore,in the State of Maryland,have in-A vented certain new and useful Improvements l,in Pneumatic Actions for Musical Instruments, of'which the following is a specifica- 'yently of a'll the others.

My invention .relates to improvements in pneumatic-actions for piano players.

The object of the invention is, to improve the construction 'of neumatic .actions for iano players by whlch the performer may able to emphasize any desired note in any chord,qre(gardless of the position of thechord, an thus predominance o tone tothe melody or any esired strain of harmony, while the accompaniment, variations, orA other portion ofthe chord' maybe rendered dued tone.

By my invention-I am enabled to control the power or forceof tone ofV any desired note in any chord without affecting all the notes and thus the 'operator can controlseparately' the volume of every individual Vnote in the instrument.I Myimproved device also permits the loperator to intepret the music 1n .accordance with his own-i eas, in that he may emphasize any desired note independ- Another object and advantage of my invention is that the mechanism and devices employed to se arately control the force .or

power applied orreach note is permanent 1n,

- land apart of, theplayer indistinction to a 'second perforated vsheet that is especially l perfdrated for use only with another particular music' sheet. i

The Vinvention is illustrated in' theaccoml longitudinal sectional view of a .lgure 1, view 'of the" device. Fig. .2, illustrates a ortion of the same. Fig. 3, shows a vcrtica sectional .A elevation through the expression controlling' a, device, and Fig. 4, -a front elevation of the l same.

RJeferring to the drawin the numcrahl, desi ates the longitudin exhaust chest whil extends throughout-the length of the a paratus and is at all times '.in communication. with a bellows or other device which will maintain a suction in said chamber through the pi 2.. The bottom, 3, of this give a marked expression orshows a vertical cross-sectional in a `softer orsub-v .y `vice is provided with a plurality of intersaid passages.

, sages, 4, which communicate 'with av bottom aust channel, 5, which extends beneath This exhaust channel also communicates with a suction apparatus by pipes, 6. The exhaust channel, 5, connects with the same exhaust apparatus as does exhaust chamber, 1. A valve stem, 7, extends vertically from each of the passages, 4,- and at the lower end of each stem there is a diaphragm, 8, which covers a recess around each passage,-the suction in the channel, 5, draws the diaphragm and valve stem down and holds it there so long as the pressure in the passage, 4, and exhaust chamber l, on opposite sldes of the diaphragm is equalzied. It 1s tobe understood that there will be one valve stem for every note of the action or instrument` and also a like number of passages, 4.

Above the main exhaust chest, l, the de` mediate chambers, 9,-sonc also for each key, and above said intermediate chamber I pro- ,.vide a plurality of upper chambers or passages, 10. Ports, 11., are provided in the artition between the main chest, 1, and the intermediate chambers, 9, While ports, 12, are also provided in the partition between the upperchambers or passages, 10, and intermediate chamber, 9. Each vvalve stem, 7, extends from' the diaphragm, 8, through the intermediate chamber, 9', and the port, 12; and has position beneath van upper port, 13, in the top 14, of the device. Flat circular valve lates, 15, are carried on the upper ends o the valve stem and when the stem is in the lowermost position with the diaphragm down in the recess around the .lower passages, 4, the valve plate, 15, is seated over the port, 12, so as to cut oil communicutiou between the chamber, 9, and u )per passage, 10,` While the port, 13,is ylc t uncovered.

Each chamber, 1'0, has a passage, 11', which extends therefroml and communicates. with pi otally sustained with-respect to theY partition between the exhaust chest, 1, .and the `plurality of intermediate chambers, 9, .and

this valve bar extends throughout the length of said exhaust chest, 1, and is mounted so as to swing up and cover all of the ports, 11, which open into the said intermediate chambers. The construction of this valve bar, 18,

the exhaust chest, 1, and a l of the intermediate chambers, 9. It is obvious that when the valve bar is down or away from the ports, 11, the suction through the port will begreaterl .and `quicker than when said valve bar is up and the smaller ports, 19, arein register with the ports', 11.. It is to be understood that when the valve bar, 18, is

raised or lowered it simultaneousl coversor uncovers all the ports, 11, in all oi' the intermediate chambers, 9. will presently be. described.

` Beneath-the diaphragme, 8, each passage,

4, is provided with a laterally extending assage, 20, and tracker tubes, 21, Aconnect t lese Iateral'paSSagesl and said tubes extend tothe tracker board, 22, having the ordinary air goinlet ports, 23. The usual perforated sheet,

24, travels over the tracker board so as to uncover the ports therein inthe usual manner. In so far as has beenl described the device is simlarto othersheretoforedesigned for Q5 ordinary piano playing, and the valve stems',-

7, are caused tovbe moved vertically .by-the interru tion or breaking of the suction on Ythe un er side of the dia hragms by the admission of airthrough tiie tracker tubes,

40 21, when a perforation in thesheet permits the entrance of the air.

`In the ordinary o ration of the device as 'heretofore' describe the valve bar, 18,4is under thehand control of the operator so that said operator can raise or' lower said 'valve bar when desired.v If it is desired that the volume of the tone shall be normal the valve bar, 18, will be wide open and thus fully uncover all of the ports, 1-1, and

lowered position the force or power of Vtone `is normal in theentire instrument. When however, it is desired to soften the tone lthe .valve barV will be lraised and the ports, 11, thereby partly covered. By such arrangement alone the entire instrument is affected, that is, all the notes. are rendered in a normal tone or all areV soft. By

' device I am enabledjtoemp asize any partcu'lar note alone and' without, at the same ftiine, emphasizing all the notes, and thus I may produce a marked expression or pref dominance oftone to the melod or anydesired strain ofharmony while t e accompaniment, variations, or other portion'of the dued tone. In order to eifect'this operation The object of this so long as said valve bar remains in themy improved chord may be rendered in' aV softer or sub-v and produce. this result I provide in each of the intermediatechambers, 9, ar second port, 25, which extends through the,v parti 70 tion between the said chambers and the exhaust-chest, 1. Y

Valve stems, 26, extend downwardly from the ports, 25, and pass through the exhaust chest,'1, and the lower ends of these .valve 7 5 stems are v.provided withy diaphragms, 2 7, whichv cover the u perends of vertical passages, 28, while 'va ves,4 29, are carriedat the upper 'ends of the stems, 26, and cover the said rts,.25, in the intermediate chambers.- 8o The owerends of the vertical passages, 28, vent, into the bottom exhaust channel, 5, while passageways, 30, extend from the pasv l -sages,-28, and communicate with tubes, 31.

As each intermediate chamber, 9, is v pro-j vided with a valve, 29, andthere are as many of said chambers-and valves' as there are 4'keys'on the keyboard, there will alsobe a.

like number of passages, 28, and 30, andja similar number of tubes, 31. The tubes, 3.1, 90. all `lead to and connect with an expression controlling device. This expression controlling device may. vary in construction but in the present instance it comprises a stationaryplate or disk, 32, having a pluralityof ports or perforations, 33, to which the tubes, 31,' all lead andhave connection. The numl ber of the perforations, 33, in the stationary disk corresponds with the number of valve chambers, 9, and tubes, 31, and these around the disk an acent the periphery thereof.- This stationary disk in the present instance, isprovided with a central cavity,

.34, for a purpose presently to be described.

A revoluble disk, 35, is pivotally mounted at'the side of the stationary disk and in slidlng contact s therewith so that it may be moved to uncover 'any vone of the perfora# tions, 33, in thestationary disk. 'By pro- 110 viding the cavity, 34, inthe stationary disk the area'. of the contact surface between the two disks is reduced to a minimum and an air tight joint may morel readily be made to prevent air rom'passing betweenl said disks 115 and entering the perforation, 33and tubes, 31. The revoluble disk, 35, is provided with a port, 36, adjacent its outer edge and the osition of this port is Suchthat by revolv mg. the disk the port may be .madetoregister with any one of the ports, 33, inthe stationary disk, 32,V for the purpose of operating any one ofl the lvalves, 29,'.in the mtermediate chambers, 9, as will presently beexplained. y The revolution of the disk, 35, maybe accomplishedin an suitable manner. In the resent instance preferto o rate the said isk by hand so itv may be un er the control' of the operator and to this end I provide a 180 per- 100 l forations are arranged, referably in a clrcle drum, 37, at the side of theirevoluble disk and to this drum-I' attach "one end.f 38, of a 'spring band, 39, while the other end, 40, of said spring is attached to ast-ationary object such as the nut, 41. A strap or band, 42, iswound. around the circumference' of the drum, 37, and has its inner end', 43, attached thereto while the outer end of said strap extends tangent-ially from the drum and is connected, in the p'res'ent instance, to a suitable sliding bai", 44. This sliding bar is mounted so as to slide horizontally and in a plane below the perforated sheet, 24,' and tracker board, 22,' anda .suitable ,indicator arm or lin er, 45, projects' upwardly' from the sli ing'bar, 44, and projects -over the said 17, through the passa es', 16- an through the interme iate chamber, 9, This perforated sheet'. i

I n the operation of the device the erforate dsheet will travelpver the tracker oard and cause an interruption to the exhaust be@ low the diaphragm,l 8,' at which time such diaphragm will rise, carrying the l'valve stem, 7, with it. 'The upward movement of- 'the said valvestem will then cause the valve, 15 to rise andcover .the port, 13', while the exhaust' or suction inthe chamber, l, will draw the air'out of the strikin pneumatic, 10, Aand -also causes the striking pneumatic to 'actuate vthe key. .If lthe valve,' 18, is o en the suction on' the striking pneumatiql will beaccom'.

plished so as to eiect the normalforce or "'29, of the Vt rou h the intermediatecham er,

the ex aust chest, 1,`will be rapidly eiiected because both orte, 11, and 25', will be open to 'l claim as new -and ,i 9

'collar to'nebiit if said valve, 18, is closed andthe.

suction is'accon'iplished throu h'the ports,

19, 'then the t'o'ne will be' so ened." ThisI ,operation however, is found iii other pneu-. matic actions.

Now incase the operator should'des'ireto emphasize 'any desired note while the other notes maybe renderedin a softer or subdued tone' this may be'done byjrev'olving 'the disk, 35, until the single'port' 36, therein will be broughtinto register with the port, 33, whose tube,'8, will' lead to the valve -device of the particular note desireds Ags-soon -as said ports, 86, and,83, are'in re 'ster the; valve,

fromthe.- p'ort, andwill r'ema'in raised so that when 'the valve, 15, o f the sam'e note Vis o rated the suction from the assage, 10, 9' into the-exhaust'c est." This results in there id of the striking pneumatic an a harder b ow 'on' the key actuating device. Havingtthus described m invention what desiree secure -'-b'y Letters-Patent is, '1.In a n eumat'ic-'actio'ii'-for musical instrumenta of intermediatechambers at one s i e'of said in combination with 'a pltialit of striking pneumatica; a Vvalve fer'centro ling' particular note' es ired will rise aving an air chest and 4a luraltyV sages off the stationa communication-between the'air, chest and one of the striking pneumatics; a valve for ov, einin the passages between the air c est' and'a 1 of the intermediate chambers, and n.

valve interposed between each intermediate chamberand theainchest.' f 2. A pneumatic-actfon formusical instruments havin tei'mediate c embers, a luraity of striking heul-naties anda lura ity of passa es one rom 'each 'in-terme iate chamber and l a valve interposed between the air chest and all of said'intermediate chambers a valve vinterposed between each intermediate chamber and each passage leadin toa striking neumatic; a valve interpose betweeneac intermediate vchalmberfa'nd the air chest, and

means for operating said'latter "valves independently o each. other.

3. 'A pneumatic-action for musical instriian lair-chest, a lurality of 'i-nr cadin to a striking pneumatic, in combination wit i mentishaving atracker board ila plurality of striking pneumati'cs; an air-c ing `from Ieach intermediate cham r' to a striking pneumatic; a sin le valve interposed est; a plurality of intermediate chambersypassa' es leadbetween the air chest an all of the inter-me- 1 -diate chambers; a valveinterposedbetween each intermediate chamber and the coi-respondin striking pneumatic pas'sc'tg'e-g--saidv latter va ves beingactuated from-thetracker board' a valve interposed'between eachV intermediate'chamber Vand the 4air chestand means under the controloftheoperator for actuating said' latter valves independently o f In a' pneumatic-action formusical insutilmente, the' combination with the air chest` and 'the'plurality of' chambers connected with j said chestl bymeans 'of ports, 'of a cut-oft'V `valve' 'extending lengthwise yof the chest 'andI A controlling the assage of-air throughI all of the ports into t 4e said chambers a/separate expressie valve-foreach of sai- '-chambers;

acontro 'in'g device .having connection with all of said'expression valves 'and-means for. operating the .controlling device at willfto actua-te" any one of. the eX- ressionvalves."

' 5. The combination wit having a plurality of ports,l of a erforated a tracker boardA iin music sheet traveling over thet'rac -er board;

Ia striking neumatic for each note in theacf tion`; .a va ve inter os'ed between each strik-il ing neumatic an trac er'boardyan air-chest', a second valve intrlpsed between each strikin 'pneumatic' an t rota he d at the .side of the', stationary' ,h 'd an register wit' any one of. h

4li ead,.said rotary head being revlqluble'b' the operator. 6, The combination f 'witha` .tracker,; l) oard one Aof the`v ports of the z i i e air chest; a stationary ead having 'a pluralit of passages,-'-eaeh `coipmiinieatin .with t e, neumatic fone of said .second V v a ves,". and

havingl'lasingl'e. ort to' e separa e pasof the' said second valves; a rotary head in I having a plurality of ports, of a' erforated music sheet traveling over the trac (er board; a striking pneumatic foreach note in the action; a valve nter ing pneumatic an one of the ports of the tracker board; an air chest; .a second valve interposed between each strikingl pneumatic 4 and the air chest; a stationary ead having ports of the stationary head and each .tube communicating with the pneumatic of one close contact with the stationary head and osed between each strik' havin asing'le ort open to the atmosihere; an in icator a apated to coact witi and 15 trace the music sheet, and means o eratively; connecting the indicator with tlie rotary head to cause the head to revolve as the indicator is moved.

In testimon whereof I aix my signature 2Q l in presence o two Witnesses. a plurality of ports; tubesl'eading from the i JAMES'P. .CAULFIELD Witnesses;

JOHN W.'HEwEs, CHAuLEeBIMnNN, Jr. 

